Chapter 86: This Daoist’s Secret Art – Transmitting True Qi by Mouth

After finishing the meal, Jiang Zhou wiped his mouth, then unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth.

Feng Siruo lay across the table, secretly watching him.

Her clear, bright eyes were full of curiosity, and her expression was adorably naive, as if she wanted to see whether eating candy would really make someone happy.

“What are you staring at so seriously?”

“Umm… are you happy?”

Jiang Zhou smacked his lips. “Eh… it’s okay. Feels a little sticky in the mouth.”

Hearing that, Feng Siruo instantly lowered her head, disappointed.

He’d eaten the candy and still isn’t happy?

Maybe… two pieces aren’t enough?

She thought, I’ll give him four tomorrow 0 —double the dose, double the joy!

“But,” Jiang Zhou added, “even if the candy doesn’t do much, since it’s from you, it makes me happy.”

“Really?”

“Feng Siruo, you’re honestly my little joy-bringer.”

As soon as he said that, Ding Yue, who was sitting one meter away, let out a dramatic “Tch!”

This shameless Jiang Zhou had clearly wrapped Feng Siruo around his finger.

That girl turned red just from talking to people. How could she possibly resist this barrage of cheesy, corny lines?

It hadn’t even been a month, and Feng Siruo already cared about him this much.

Give it another month and she’d probably be glued to him 24/7.

Even as her bestie, Ding Yue didn’t get this kind of treatment.

She couldn’t help but feel a little envious, a little jealous.

“By the way,” Jiang Zhou said, “it’s the weekend tomorrow. Want me to take you shopping?”

Feng Siruo’s eyes lit up but then shook her head.

“You planning to live the full-on shut-in lifestyle?” Jiang Zhou teased.

“I… I’m kind of scared.”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t gone shopping once since coming to Shangjing?”

Feng Siruo nodded. “Too many people… I can’t breathe.”

Jiang Zhou cleared his throat with mock solemnity. “This Daoist has a secret art: when the lady cannot breathe, I can pass true qi via mouth.”

“Huh?” Feng Siruo blinked at him, confused.

Ding Yue rolled her eyes from a meter away. “He means mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!”

“No way!!” Feng Siruo’s face flushed a deep red, her dainty nose scrunching in protest.

Jiang Zhou turned to Ding Yue. “Don’t you need a boyfriend? Why are you always hanging around me, nagging?”

“I’m her love advisor! What’s it to you?”

“Have you even been in a relationship before?”

“No, but just because I haven’t eaten pork doesn’t mean I haven’t seen pigs run!”

“Then tell me, how do pigs run?”

“It’s all the same. You love me, I misunderstand you, I love you, you push me away. That’s all there is in romance.”

“Spare me. I’d never fall for a no-height-no-chest-no-figure type like you.”

“It’s a metaphor! I meant anyone, not me and you specifically!”

Jiang Zhou turned to Feng Siruo. “Does she sit in the dorm every day reading romance novels, crying while picking her feet, and then… sniffing her fingers afterward?”

Feng Siruo’s eyes widened in shock. “How did you know?!”

“Feng Siruo! You betrayed me!” Ding Yue nearly stabbed the table with her chopsticks, fuming.

She had to admit… Jiang Zhou wasn’t wrong.

That was her usual routine.

Cry over Qiong Yao dramas, get choked up, then sit up, scratch her foot… sniff…

“That’s the tragic fate of a shut-in girl. You don’t want to turn into Ding Yue, right?”

Feng Siruo glanced carefully at her friend, then shook her head.

“Didn’t think so.” Jiang Zhou nodded.

“Come out with me this weekend. I’ll take you somewhere quieter.”

“Okay!”

Jiang Zhou reached over and gently ruffled her hair.

Feng Siruo, obedient as a bunny, didn’t shy away.

“Ding Yue.”

“What?!”

“Want a boyfriend?”

“Duh. We’re all young. Who doesn’t?”

“Then why are you holed up in the dorm scratching your feet? You think that’ll get you one?”

“Even if I stop, it’s not like I’ll find one…”

Jiang Zhou grew thoughtful.

The three boys in their dorm were dumb or silly but still decent guys at heart.

Unfortunately, they were often hurt by girls with bad intentions.

Ding Yue wasn’t exactly the most attractive girl around, but she was loyal to Feng Siruo, so she counted as a decent one.

Plus, Feng Siruo was opening up a lot these days. She needed to see more of the world.

A class trip might be a good idea.

And if a few couples came out of it… Well, that just kept things in the family.

“Tell the class rep we should organize a trip.”

Ding Yue blinked. “A trip? What does that have to do with finding boyfriends?”

“Are we short on guys in our class?”

“No.”

“Short on girls?”

“Also no.”

“Exactly. You just need a chance to get closer.”

“Oh! So like… stay overnight on the trip and, y’know… share a room?”

“Ahem… You’re too good at this. You’re imagining more than I am!”

“Is that not allowed?”

“The trip’s just to give everyone a social setting. After that, it’s up to you.”

“Okay! I’ll tell the class rep.”

“But don’t say I suggested it. Say it was your idea.”

“Why?”

“Everyone knows I’m running a business. If the class rep thinks it was me, he’ll come asking for sponsorship. I’m broke, even the principal knows that!”

Ding Yue frowned slightly. “You’re right. But trips cost money… where’s that coming from?”

Feng Siruo was about to raise her hand, ready to say, “I have savings! I can pay!”

She had over 100,000 yuan stashed away and barely spent anything.

But before she could lift her hand, Jiang Zhou grabbed it.

“Feng Siruo, are you seriously going to sponsor this? Are you insane? That’s our money!”

“Mmph…” Feng Siruo pouted. Who’s part of ‘our’ anything…

“Let the class pool class funds,” Jiang Zhou said.

“Once the money’s there, then decide whether to go or not.”

“Got it. I’ll talk to the rep.”

“But don’t act too thirsty for love or people will think you’re desperate.”

“You’re desperate! I’m… I’m a respectable person!”

Jiang Zhou turned back to Feng Siruo. “If it’s with classmates, going out might feel easier, right?”

“Yeah… I think so.”

“Good. That way, someday I can take you to the ends of the earth or even the edge of the universe.”

At that, Ding Yue’s heart softened.

So this bastard brought up the trip… for Feng Siruo.

He wanted to take her out, but was worried she couldn’t handle it alone.

Say what you will about his personality, his heart toward her was genuine.

A guy like him, smooth-talking and smart, should’ve become a super scumbag by now.

But instead, he poured all that energy into a silly girl like her.

“Alright, enough talk. We’re done eating. Get lost.”

Jiang Zhou looked at Feng Siruo. “Wait for me downstairs tomorrow at noon.”

She nodded, waving her tiny hand at him.

“Feng Siruo.” Ding Yue suddenly turned serious. “Do you really want to be with him?”

“I… I don’t…”

“Don’t lie. I know you like him.”

Feng Siruo looked down, silent.

“Before you say yes to being his girlfriend, think it through. How will you face your family?”

“I…”

“Once they find out you’re with him, they won’t stay quiet.”

Feng Siruo fell silent. The light in her eyes slowly dimmed.

She knew Ding Yue was right.

That’s exactly why… she still hadn’t said yes.

“Don’t worry about them. I’ll handle it.

“If they don’t give me respect, I’ll beat it into them — one by one.”

A voice suddenly cut in from behind.

Jiang Zhou had walked back up, reaching for the cigarette pack he’d forgotten on the table.

Ding Yue jumped. “You again?!”

“Forgot my smokes.”

“I wasn’t talking trash about you just now,” Ding Yue said.

“It’s just that her family won’t accept a nobody.”

Jiang Zhou smiled. “I know. But I’m not worried about crap.”

“No, you don’t get it. Her family’s big. Really big. Bigger than you’d believe.”

“I know. But no matter how big they are… I won’t be small.”

Both girls froze.

Jiang Zhou waved casually, lit a cigarette, and walked out of the cafeteria.

Of course he knew how big Feng Siruo’s family was.

In his previous life, just to be with her, he’d fought them for half his life.